The author Patric McGonigal story is based on two Irish brothers in Special Forces. He guides readers

The author has done extensive research using official and unofficial documents, letters, conversations with those who were there, as well as family memories. In 1922, the year that the Irish Free State came into existence, the family moved to Belfast, the home city of John McGonigal, who was one of no less than 17 siblings. Such a move had its challenges but John went on to become the chief crown prosecutor for Belfast and, in time, was elected the “father” of the Northern Irish Bar and appointed to the bench as a judge in Tyrone. I first came across the bravery of Ambrose McGonigal and his younger brother Eoin two years ago while researching the life of the legendary SAS officer, Lieutenant Colonel Blair “Paddy” Mayne, DSO & three Bars. Mayne is arguably the bravest man never to be awarded the Victoria Cross and, had he enjoyed a more conventional career, that decoration might well have been bestowed upon him. But that’s another story for another day. Ambrose Joseph McGonigal was born in Dublin on November 22 1917 – during the second half of the First World War and just a year after the Easter Rebellion that saw armed resistance to British rule. His younger brother, Eoin, was born three years later in 1920, the same year that the Government of Ireland Act was passed that resulted in the partition of the country the following year. However, Ambrose, also had a much older brother, Richard, who was 15 years his senior, and four sisters.Lieutenant McGonigal joined the Royal Ulster Rifles in 1939​ and was subsequently attached Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in 1940. One of his comrades, Ian Smith, later recalled that Ambrose had “an insatiable thirst” for adventure and was “totally without fear”. This book covers a lot of the story of the founding of the SAS and its initial missions in Africa, which would make a volume by itself. It details the birth of the Commandos and the difficulties of establishing both organisations in the face of opposition from senior, established Military figures. The hard training, disappointments at cancelled operations, loss of morale, disbandments, formation of new units, all weave a fascinating tale of these two brothers’ lives, and make for a great read.

Ambrose’s career as a lawyer and judge are very interesting to read about, as is his attitude to having to have a bodyguard at all times, and to protect his family from those who wanted to kill them due to his chosen career. (Like Catholics in the RUC, Catholic Judges spoiled the narrative that there were no Catholics in those professions, so the IRA used their own means to reduce the numbers.) Although a pillar of the Establishment, he was renowned for being fair to all who came before him. At a time when hanging was still a mandatory sentence for certain crimes in Northern Ireland, his approach was fair to the Establishment, the victim, the criminal and the changes he could see coming through in society. This was a man I'd like to have met. Despite the demands of his large practice, McGonigal found time to take on many onerous and important positions in public life. In 1945 he was appointed chairman of the Irish railway wages board, and later he was chairman of the Joint Industrial Council as well as a member of the banks’ arbitration tribunal. His appointments to important bodies in the sensitive fields of industrial relations and salary fixing were a recognition of his sense of fairness and impartiality. Having been badly injured during a raid, McGonigal was rumoured to have been taken Prisoner of War but subsequently died of his wounds on the same day. His death prompting Blair Mayne to write to his Sister Frances "I am getting very tired of this Country, especially since Eoin landed a loser" [4] Burial place [ edit ]

In war and peace, Ambrose McGonigal lived an extraordinary life, with conflict never far away. During the Second World War, he served as a Commando and in the SBS, while after it he served in Belfast as the most senior Catholic judge during the height of the Troubles. PDF / EPUB File Name: Special_Forces_Brothers_in_Arms_-_Patric_McGonigal.pdf, Special_Forces_Brothers_in_Arms_-_Patric_McGonigal.epub A handsome but stern appearance, coupled with natural authority, meant that at times on the bench McGonigal conveyed an intimidating demeanour to counsel and witnesses alike. He was a man of decisive judgement and unimpeachable integrity, and any hint that the court was being misled or not told the full truth, or that counsel was not fully prepared, would result in an uncomfortable experience for the person concerned as the error was exposed in measured but icy terms. Nevertheless, any counsel who had been found wanting knew that on his next appearance before McGonigal he started with a clean slate. Eoin Christopher McGonigal was the Son of John and Margaret McGonigal of Dun Laoghaire, Co.Dublin, Eire. His brother Ambrose McGonigal was also a member of the British Special Forces. [2]